A Watched Pot

"A watched pot never boils."  Science has pretty much kicked this theory in the teeth.  A heat source (capable of reaching 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or for our Canadian friends, 100 degrees Celsius), a heat conducting pot/bowl, some water and you will eventually achieve boiling.  I know, too literal, but I do have a point to reach, so please bare with me.

Have you ever been away from someone for a while?  I'm talking 6 months, a year or longer.  Signs of aging are more prevalent when there is a time lapse.  The human body is constantly changing (for the good or bad).  The changes I am talking about are the ones that happen gradually to all of us.  Weight gain or loss.  Hair is grown, cut, colored or lost.  Faces and physiques can change. If you see the person everyday, these changes may not stand out, but it is the gap in encounters that make them stand out.

Now lets look at the same process, but focus it to the little incubators that are our Children.  Zach is 7 years and 2 months old.  He is about 53 inches tall.  Adding his time after birth and his time in the womb, he has been growing for about 96 months.  He has grown more than a half an inch a month since he was conceived.  Based on this growth rate, he will be 9 feet tall at around his 14th birthday.  Does anyone know a good big and tall shop?

The rapid rate at which children develop has really struck me over the last few weeks.  It started with a a stomach bug.  Sleeping patterns have been erratic.  I have just been tired and a little "checked-out".  Just a few weeks ... and with just that little bit of time elapsing, I notice a wonderland of development that has gone on around me from the children.

Zadie is now rolling over.  She rolls to her stomach and starts trying to pull herself to whatever has caught her eye.  She is developing her personality ... and she is a smiler.  She is already 5 months old.  Soon ... crawling, talking, walking ... don't blink.

Zoe and Zane's speech has exploded.  Five, Six, Seven word sentences.  They make jokes, they bargain, they argue ... they're hilarious.  Soon ... alphabet, counting, reading, math, school ... don't miss it.

Zach had a standardized test the other day.  He tested well.  Really well in some areas.  He impressed the test facilitator.  Soon ... enrichment programs, advanced placement, college credit ... don't lose focus.

Just as a pot of water will boil ... our children will grow up, whether we are watching or not.

The Z's favorite lunch is macaroni and cheese.  I wouldn't have a guess for the number of times that I have started to boil water, got distracted, got busy, and came back to find the water boiling out of control.

Children are going to grow up ... watch ... engage ... nothing is more important.